FALL RIVER — Southcoast Health announced that it is the first in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to successfully implant the new Boston Scientific INOGEN MINI ICD. The procedure was performed by cardiologist Nitesh Sood, MD, at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.

The Boston Scientific INOGEN MINI ICD is the world’s smallest and thinnest defibrillator. It is designed for comfort – 20 percent smaller by volume and up to 24 percent thinner than competitive devices from other manufacturers.

“This innovative technology helps treat life-threatening arrhythmias of the heart, while improving patient comfort,” said Sood. “This is just one more example of the depth and breadth of cardiac services available locally at Southcoast Health hospitals.”

ICDs are designed to treat patients suffering from heart failure and/or to provide protection to patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s need for oxygen. According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death in the United States with nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually.

For more information on Southcoast’s Cardiovascular Services, visit www.southcoast.org/heart.